Louise Hansson swam home five medals during the short course EC in Romania in December, including a gold in the 100 meter butterfly. During the WC in Doha, the 27-year-old swims three individual distances; 50 and 100 meter butterfly and 50 meter backstroke.
A long-track WC in February is not the norm. That the World Cup is decided now and also less than six months before the Olympics in Paris is a consequence of the pandemic.
– I have a lot I want to improve from last season and want to use these six months to build confidence and set my race plan and see it as a great opportunity to do it at a WC to begin with.
During the WC in Fukuoka last summer, Louise Hansson, European champion in 2022, finished ninth in the 100 meter butterfly event.
Before and during last year’s season, Hansson worked with an increased strength program, but more muscle mass does not automatically lead to faster times. It is a constant balancing act to get the maximum out of the water both technically and in time.
“Was a tough season”
– It was a tough season and not the result I wanted. It feels like I changed something in the training and I’m happy that I did. You don’t want to come after the summer and think that I should have tried this or done something different. I have tested what I thought was something that could give, and there were definitely things that worked that I take with me. I have found a good balance and feel that my body has responded, she says.
She started the Olympic year with large parts of the national team in South Africa and comes directly to the WC from a training camp with her swimming colleagues in Loughborough.
– I often find it quite easy to swim in fairly good times during the season and felt that I had a bit of a problem with it last year and then it won’t be as much fun.
– But I competed a few weeks ago and already felt that the body responds when I want it to respond. I feel that I have a big swim that I can keep and I feel strong all the way home, says Hansson.
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